Chapter 34
After blinking my heavy eyelids open and shut several times, I found myself wondering where exactly I was.
The ceiling was high and ornate—had I fallen into heaven?
Was it possible I hadn’t managed to return after all?
…Though, come to think of it, had I ever done enough good deeds to deserve heaven? I hadn’t even managed to properly commit any villainous acts either.
Ah. When I wake up, I should go to the Baget Salon and order some clothes first.
I definitely drank poison and collapsed.
The memory of vomiting blood as it surged up to my throat, my vision blurring, was still painfully vivid. Yet now, I couldn’t taste the metallic bitterness of blood, nor the sickly sweet scent of the poison that had tasted like melted sugar cubes.
That’s why I thought I’d really died.
Then why can’t I move?
It felt like sleep paralysis—like someone was pressing me down.
I bit my lip hard.
I tried to move my fingers, but they wouldn’t obey, so I bit down harder, hoping at least the pain would snap me out of it.
More than anything—it hurts!
If I were dead, it shouldn’t hurt!!
As the familiar metallic taste filled my mouth again, I let out a deep sigh.
I was certain now.
The tea meant for Osborne had been the one I drank.
I’d thought the teacups looked switched—so I must have accidentally taken Osborne’s cup. How shocked that kind, gentle Saintess must’ve been.
I wanted to turn my head and check my surroundings, but since I couldn’t, I gave up and tried to think through what came next.
I’d planned to poison Osborne and then claim the crime as my own.
But maybe this worked out better.
I could just insist it was all a staged act.
If rumors spread—quietly—that I’d staged the incident to pin everything on Osborne and draw the social spotlight onto myself…
Then the Emperor would summon me to investigate the truth, and I could confess everything then.
Yes. Let’s keep it simple.
I nearly died—but what could I do?
Now that I’ve possessed Elizabeth’s body, I have to die as the villainess to return to my world.
That means I just have to endure the same death Elizabeth was fated to suffer.
Ha… of all people, why did I have to possess a villainess doomed to die?
“Ellie!!”
Just as I finished gathering my thoughts, I blinked at the familiar voice.
Since my head still wouldn’t turn, I moved only my eyes—
and saw Anais hurrying toward me.
“Gra…nd…fa…ther…”
Huh?
Was my voice always this hoarse?
How many times had I vomited after fainting? My throat felt utterly wrecked.
Maybe the reason I couldn’t move yet was that the poison hadn’t fully left my system.
I wasn’t sure—but that seemed likely.
Anais approached carefully and pulled me into a tight embrace.
His arms were so warm that before I knew it, my eyes filled with tears.
Drip.
Why am I crying?
Don’t cry. I drank the poison on purpose.
If I cry, Anais will misunderstand—
But once the tears started, they wouldn’t stop.
I was really alive.
Even up to the moment I’d vomited blood, my entire body had tingled and burned with pain.
As the sensation replayed vividly in my mind, I squeezed my eyes shut—
—and suddenly felt a strange warmth wrap around my whole body.
My eyes snapped open.
My body felt lighter than before.
First, I tried moving my fingers.
“…Ah. They move.”
They definitely hadn’t before.
“Well, that’s because we infused divine power and healing energy to remove the remaining poison.”
…??
That voice sounds familiar.
Excuse me—
My favorite character.
Why are you here?
And that wasn’t all.
Still in Anais’s arms, I lifted my head—
and saw the Emperor and Arahan too.
…Huh?
Why is everyone here?
Isn’t this supposed to be the Luciella mansion? Where’s Osborne?
Where’s the Osborne who should be rushing in first, looking ready to cry, saying,
“Lady Arlesia!! Are you alright?!”
Wait. Don’t tell me…
“Grandfather… where am I…?”
“…You’re safe. Not at that damned Luciella mansion. That cursed place—!”
“…What? Not the mansion?”
“You are in the imperial infirmary, my lady.”
Arahan answered gently, smiling with visible relief.
What do you mean imperial palace?!
Why was I transported straight here?
Did everyone already figure out it was staged and fast-track me to confession mode or something?!
“…How did this happen…?”
“Bishnu brought you here. You collapsed in that blasted mansion—how could we let you be treated there!”
“….”
Well… he’s not wrong.
Sigh.
This is way too direct.
How am I supposed to confess in a situation like this?
Everything’s getting completely tangled.
“Shall I bring that girl in immediately, Your Majesty?”
Anais spoke in a low, controlled voice.
I blinked, my mind racing.
Luciella hadn’t done anything wrong.
If anything, that kind Saintess would probably feel guilty just for thinking she’d harmed me, and insist on accepting any punishment.
In the original story, even when Elizabeth’s crimes were exposed and she was interrogated, Osborne had stood by her side and defended her—
even though Elizabeth had tried to kill her.
Of course, there had been too much evidence, and Elizabeth was executed anyway.
But right now—
there was nothing I could do.
Blurting out, “I did it! I wanted to monopolize the Emperor’s love!” wasn’t exactly possible in my condition.
If Arten had been summoned, that meant I’d really been in critical danger.
Sure, it was a staged act—
but there’s no such thing as a staged act this extreme.
Well… technically I did drink the poisoned tea meant for Osborne.
“……Permission granted.”
The Emperor’s order fell.
Immediately, Anais released me, called Ain—who had been waiting outside—to guard me, and then, apparently planning to turn the Luciella mansion upside down, strapped on a sword he rarely wore.
After gently stroking my head, he left the infirmary.
Ah… this is bad.
Seriously bad.
Worse than bombing my college entrance exam results.
“Lady, are you alright? Dizzy or—”
“Ah… Duke. I’m alright.”
“…For the time being, you shouldn’t think about going anywhere. I’ll postpone your meeting with Marquis Soboron somehow. The charity event is still far off.”
“…Your Majesty.”
“I will remain nearby for the time being as well. If you feel any discomfort, please tell me immediately.”
“Priest Arten…”
(Why is everyone here?)
I swallowed that part.
Right. Osborne wouldn’t say I poisoned her.
Until then, I just need to figure something out.
Not realizing that this very thought was arrogance—overconfidence—
I simply smiled brightly and accepted their care.
“Um, but…”
“Yes?”
The Emperor answered first.
Well… I had intended the question for him, so that timing worked out.
“Why… are you here, Your Majesty?”
“……”
I understood Anais being here—she’s his granddaughter.
Arahan too—he’d basically confessed to me.
But the Emperor?
That man who used to treat me with such cold disdain—
came to see me?
Suddenly?
“Ahem. You seem fine, so that’s a relief. And I was just about to leave. If you were to die, it would create an exhausting amount of trouble for me.”
“Oh, I see. You must be very busy.”
“…Forgive me, but Lady Arlesia absolutely requires complete rest right now. I’m afraid both of you will need to leave.”
It was Arten who intervened between us.
For words coming from such a gentle face, they were surprisingly blunt.
Arahan shot Karlcia a brief glare—since he was getting kicked out along with him—but rose anyway.
Unlike before, this wasn’t feigned illness. It was real.
Understanding that well, the Emperor and Arahan carefully stood and left, saying they’d return in the evening.
You really don’t have to…
But of course, they couldn’t hear my inner thoughts.
“Haah…”
“Are you alright?”
Only after sending them out did Arten approach me—his face clearly saying, Now I can finally relax—and handed me a warm cup of tea.
As expected of my favorite character.
Pretty, kind—perfect.
Mom, my favorite character just asked if I’m okay. What do I do, this is too good.
“…Well, it startled me, but I’m alright.”
I carefully sipped the tea.
Warmth spread through my body, and the fatigue seemed to melt away.
I said I was fine—but the memory of drinking the poison was still vivid, and honestly, a little frightening.
If I felt like this now…
When the time comes for me to face execution and death—
will I really be able to return to my world?
“I’m glad to hear that.”
At Arten’s quiet voice, I looked up at him.
“Still, it was dangerous, my lady.”
“…Yes. Thanks to you, Priest Arten, I feel much better now. Thank you for helping with the antidote.”
“Please be more careful from now on…”
It seemed like Arten said something more after that—
but a sudden wave of sleep washed over me, and I couldn’t hear the rest.
When I wake up… I should ask him.
Before I knew it, my eyes drifted shut, and I collapsed back onto the bed, slipping into sleep again.
======================================
After she fell asleep, Arten watched the darkening sunset for a moment, then lowered his gaze to Elizabeth.
Looking at her gently resting eyelashes and the color finally returned to her face, he spoke softly.
“…You collapsed from poison, yet you still accept tea from others without hesitation. You’re rather careless.”
His elegant hand brushed lightly through Elizabeth’s hair.
As a slightly different expression surfaced on his once-innocent face, the words he murmured carried surprising weight.
“It’s still too early for you to die. After all, I chose you.”
“…Elizabeth.”
“…Or rather—Miss Lee Se-hwa.”
But Elizabeth, already deep in sleep, heard none of it—
only dreaming, for the first time in a long while, a sweet and peaceful dream.
